Health as a Value: Implications for Practice

Health is identified as a value, and therefore techniques aimed at changing preventive health behavior (PHB) inevitably involve values. PHB includes both reducing the frequency of behaviors that put one at risk of illness and increasing preventive behaviors that may reduce one's chances of disease. Caution is suggested when undertaking such interventions, and it is recommended that the issue of health value be discussed, especially when health is not the presenting problem. It is concluded that presenting clients with the relevant facts, openly discussing health value, and heightening clients' awareness of the interrelation between physical and mental health will likely enhance commitment to participation in PHB.